Barrel support means for firearms



Aug. 23, 1949. J YAsHo 2,479,594

BARREL SUPPORT MEANS FOR FIREARMS Filed July 9, 1948 INVENTOR. Samuel J.Yosho.

BY W/ I ATTO Y Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STAT BARREL SUPPORT MEANS FOR FIREARMS Samuel Yasho, East Pittsburgh, Pa. Application July 9, 1948, Serial No. 37,181- (01. 42-15) 12 Claims.

This invention relaes generally to firearms and more particularly to means for supporting the barrel of a shoulder firearm at the end of the forestock.

Heretofore it has been the general practice to so bed the barrel of a rifle in a. stock that the barrel is in close contact with and is supported by the forestock throughout the length of the forestock as well as at the breech of the rifle. After considerable work of fitting or bedding the barrel to the stock, it has been standard practice to securely anchor the breech of the rifle to the stock by bolts and to also securely anchor or fasten the barrel near or adjacent the end of the forestock. Such assembly of the components of a rifle has been heretofore considered to be the best in order to obtain accuracy in the shooting of the rifle on the target range and in the field.

However, where such a bedded rifle is employed in match target shooting or where extreme accuracy is required, it is found that the ti ht fit of the forestock about the barrel varies with weather conditions as the Wood from which the stock is made is afieeted by the weather conditions. Further, as the rifle barrel becomes heated under firing conditions, the bedding of the barrel in the stock is also adverselyaftected. Instances have been known where the fit between the barrel and forestock was so tight that under conditions of use the forestock actually split.

Recently there have been a number of attempts to bed the rifle barrel in the forestock to overcome the past practice of supporting the barrel throughout the length of the iorestock. Such attempts however, have not given satisfactory results in practice or have so greatly increased the expense of bedding the rifle as to be undesirable.

An object of this invention is the provision of means for bedding a rifle barrel with respect to the forestock to insure zero setting for the barrel under conditions of use of the rifle.

Another object of this invention is the provision in a gun having a barrel rigidly mounted at its e h on a g nstock with the forestock extending along a portion of the barrel with a clearance space etween the barrel and forestock, for adjustabl supporting the barrel at the end of the forestock to maintain the clearance between the barrel and forestock and to insure zero setting for the barrel under conditions of use of the gun.

A further object of this invention is to provide adjustable means at the end of the forestock of a rifle for supporting the barrel thereof in a given position spaced with respect to the forestock and for locking the adjustable means in any given adjusted position to insure the maintenance of the given position of the barrel after the firing of the rifle.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a broken view of a firearm embodying the teachings of the present invention, the broken view being shown partly in side elevation and partly in section,

Fig. 2 is an end view, greatly enlarged and partly in section, of the supporting member 'for the rifle barrel at the end of the iorestock as taken along the line II-II' of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of they supporting memher for the barrel taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a detailed view, partly in section, of the adjustable member of the supporting mem-- ber shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing and in particular-to Fig. 1 thereof, this invention is illustrated as applied to a rifle Ill having a barrel l2 of the usual construction which is secured at one end to a receiver I 4 which is also of the usual construction. The specific construction of .the barrel [2 and receiver l 4 form no part of the present invention and, therefore, will not be described in greater detail. The receiver I2 is tightly bedded in the stock I 6 as in usual practice and is rigidly secured to the stock l6 as by screws l8 and 20 disposed at convenient places under the receiver 12 and depending upon the construction of the receiver.

As illustrated the forestock 22 of the'stock I6 is grooved and shaped to provide a clearance space 24 between the barrel l2 and the forested:

22 throughout the length of the forestock 22 so as to normally permit movement of the barrel I2 without contacting the forestock 22. The clearance space 24 need not be uniform, the prime purpose thereof being to prevent contact between the barrel and forestock and to provide what'is known as a floating barrel mounting.

In accordance with this invention an adjustable supporting member 26 is mounted on the end of the forestock 22 for supporting the barrel l2 and insuring the same seating or zero mounting of the barrel 12 in the stock I6 after each shot and under service conditions. As illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2, the adjustable supporting member 26 comprises a base plate member 28 of lightweight metal, such as aluminum, aluminum alloy or the like, disposed to seat flush on the end of the forestock 22 in a vertical position and to be secured thereto as by a plurality of wood screws 30 disposed in countersunk openings 32 in the plate member 28. The upper edge of the though it is preferred to form'the plate 28 and brackets 34 and 36 of lightweight metal, they can, of course, be formed of any suitable metal which can be blued as is common in firearms.

Each of the brackets 34 and 36 is provided with a threaded opening 38 therein, the thread-- ed opening 38 terminating in an enlarged recess 40 in the face of the bracket adjacent the upper edge 29 of the plate member 28. Theopenings 38 are preferably so disposed in the brackets 34 and 36 that they extend in the same angular direction as the brackets and extensions of the openings 38 will converge and meet internally of the barrel I2 when the supporting member 26 is secured to the end of the forestock 22.

In order to provide an adjustable point contact support for the barrel I2, elongated adjustable pin members 42 and 44 are disposed to be carried in the threaded openings 38 of the brackets 34 and 36, respectively, to extend outwardly therefrom in the converging angular direction of the openings 38. The pin members 42 and 44 are identical in construction and as shown in Fig. 2 are formed of a threaded shank 46 for engaging the threaded surface of the opening 38 and an enlarged head 48 at one end thereof of a size to tightly but rotatably fit in the recess 48 of the bracket, the other end of the pin member being provided with a slot 56 for receiving a screw driver (not shown) for adjusting the threaded engagement of the pin in the opening 38, the purpose of such adjustment being explained more fully hereinafter.

Each of the pins 42 and 44 is also provided with an end piece 52 as more clearl shown in Fig. 4 of a material formed from fibrous material impregnated with a resinous product. Such materials are well known, being sold to the trade under different trade names, such as Micarta r Formica and are generally consolidated under heat and pressure from fibrous material, such as cloth, paper, fiber glass or duck and synthetic resins such as phenolic, urea or thiourea condensation products. Such materials have heat insulating characteristics and are also somewhat resilient under shock. As illustrated, the end pieces 52 are provided with an extension 54 disposed to fit tightly in a press fit into a recess 55 in the head 48 and to seat flush on the head 48. The outer surface 58 of the end piece is curved so as to engage the barrel I2 in a point contact as explained hereinafter.

In order to lock the pins 42 and 44 in any given adjusted position in the brackets 34 and 36, respectively, lock nuts 56 and 58, respectively, are disposed in threaded engagement with the slotted ends of the pins 42 and 44, respectively, being disposed for movement relative thereto to seat against the face of the brackets. Each of the lock nuts 56 and 58 is provided with a slot 60 extending through the walls of the nut whereby a screw driver (not shown) may be utilized for tightening the lock nuts. As illustrated, the lock nuts 56 and 58 are of a length sufiicient to extend beyond the end of the associated pin when assembled therewith so that as the lock nut is tightened thereon the screw driver (not shown) will not contact the end of the associated pin when positioned in the slot 66. Each of the lock nuts 56 and 58 is also preferably provided with a knurled outer surface 62 to facilitate manual tightening of the nuts.

In operation, with the barrel I2 rigidly mounted on the stock I6 at the breech I4 thereof and with the barrel spaced from the forestock 22 and the plate member 28 secured to the end of the forestock 22 as described, the point contact support for the barrel I2 at the end of the forestock is adjusted as follows. The lock nuts 56 and 58 are backed away from the brackets 34 and 36, respectively, or are removed from the pins 42 and 44, respectively. The pins 42 and 44 are then individually adjusted longitudinally in the threaded openings 38 in the brackets 34 and 36, respectively, to move the end pieces 52 outwardly therefrom in a. converging angular direction towards the floating barrel I2 on' the opposite sides of the vertical central plane thereof as shown in Fig. 2 to just engage the'surface of the barrel I2 in a point contact supporting relation. In this position the barrel I2 is'theoretically perfectly centered. 6

Having adjusted the pins 42 and 44 in this manner, the rifle is fired to determine further adjustments. By turning the pins 42 and 44 to force them inwardly towards the barrel I2, pressure is applied to the underside of the barrel I2 which changes the relative position of the barrel I2 with respect to the forestock 22. Likewise one pin can be retracted and the other advanced to change the position of the barrel I2 with respect to the forestock 22. By experimentally'firing of the rifle aftereach adjustment, it will be apparent that the rifle can be quickly and accurately sighted for the utmost accuracy. Once the pins 42 and 44 are adjusted to support the barrel I2 in a given position, the lock nuts 56 and 58 are tightened on the slotted end of the pins against the brackets 34 and 36, respectively, to maintain the pins fixed in their adjusted posiion.

By supporting the barrel I2 in this manner at the end of the forestock 22 to maintain the clearance space between the barrel I2 and the forestock 22, the barrel I2 is free to only move outwardly away from the forestock but will always return to a given fixed support. Thus the barrel I2 is always supported in the same manner after each shot whereby accuracy in firing the rifle can be obtained.

Since the end pieces 52 of the pins are curved, a point contact with the barrel I2 is obtained regardless of the diameter of the barrel. Further, since the end pieces 52 are of insulating material being formed from fibrous material impregnated with resin, they provide for limiting the transfer of heat from the barrel to the metal pins and brackets of the supporting member 26. Further, where expansion of the. barrel is encountered, it is found that the barrel can freely move longitudinally with respect to the point contact of the end pieces 52 without interfering with the setting of the pins 42 and 44. As the composite material forming the end pieces 52 also has resilient characteristics, it is unaffected by the impact shock occurring during the firing of the rifle nor will the end pieces. 52 mar themetal of the barrel [2 in any way.

The supporting member 26 is relatively simple in construction and adjustments can be readily made in the field or on the range Without requiring-the aid of complicated test equipment or tools.

The supporting member completely eliminates the many hours of work required heretofore to fit the barrel to the stock and also eliminates the variable efiects of tension between the wood stock and the barrel.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gun having a barrel rigidly mounted at its breech on a gunstock with the forestock thereof extending along a portion of the barrel with a clearance space betweenthe barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a plate member disposed to be carried by the end of the forestock, a pair of brackets carried by the plate member in spaced relation thereon, means adjustably carried by each of the brackets disposed for movement to engage the barrel in spaced point contact therewith to provide a seat therefor to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, and means associated with each of the adjustable seating means disposed to lock the seating means in position in the associated brackets to maintain the seating means in fixed position relative to the barrel and prevent displacement of the seating means under impact shock.

2. In a gun having a, barrel rigidly mounted at its breech on a gunstock with the forestock thereof extending along a portion of the barrel with a clearance space between the barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a plate member disposed to be carried by the end of the forestock, means for securing the plate member to the end of the forestock, a pair of brackets carried b the plate member in spaced relation thereon, means adjustably carried by each of the brackets disposed for movement to engage the barrel in spaced point contact therewith to provide a seat therefor to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, and means disposed 'to lock the adjustable seating means in position in the bracket to maintain the seating means in fixed position relative to the barrel and prevent displacement of the seating means under impact shock.

3. In a gun having a barrel rigidly mounted at its breech on a gunstock with the forestock thereof extending along a portion of the barrel with a clearance space between the barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a plate member disposed to be carried by the end of the forestock, a pair of brackets carried by the plate member in spaced relation thereon, each of the brackets having a threaded opening therethrough, means disposed in threaded engagement in the openings of each of the brackets and disposed for movement therein to engage the barrel in spaced point contact to provide a seat therefor to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, and means associated with each of the movable seating means disposed to lock the seating means in position in threaded engagement with the associated brackets to maintain the seating means in a fixed position relative to the barrel and prevent displacement of the seating means when subjected to impact shock.

4. In a gun having a barrel rigidly mounted at the breech on a gunstock with the forestock thereof extending along a portion of the barrel with. a clearance space between the barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a plate member disposed to be'carried by the end of the; forestock, a pair of brackets carried by the plate member in spaced relation thereon, means adjustably carried by each of the brackets disposed to extend outwardly therefrom in converging angular relation to each other and disposed for movement to engage the barrel in spaced point contact therewith to provide a seat therefor to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, and means associated with each of the adjustable seating means disposed to lock the seating means in position in the associated brackets to maintain the seating means in fixed position relative to the barrel and prevent displacement of the seating means under impact shock.

5. In a gun having a barrel rigidly mounted at its breech on a gunstoek with the forestock thereof extending along a portion of the barrel with a clearance space between the barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a, plate member disposed-to be carried by the end of the forestock, a pair of brackets carried by the plate member and disposed thereon in angular spaced relation to each other, means adjustably carried by each of the singularly disposed brackets disposed to extend outwardly therefrom to engage the barrel in spaced point contact therewith to provide a seat therefor to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, and means associated with each of the adjustable seating means disposed to lock the seating means in position in the associated brackets to maintain the seating means in fixed position relative to the barrel and prevent displacement of the seating means under impact shock.

6. In a gun having a barrel rigidly mounted at its breech on a gunstock with the forestock thereof extending along a portion of the barrel with a clearance space between the barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a plate member disposed to be carried by the end of the forestock, a pair of brackets carried by the plate member in spaced relation thereon, each of the brackets having a threaded opening therein, the threaded openings being angularly disposed with respect to each other whereby extensions thereof converge in adirection towards the barrel, means disposed in threaded engagement with the threaded openings to extend outwardly therefrom in the converging angular direction of the openings and being disposed for movement to engage the barrel in spaced point contact to provide a seat therefor to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, and means associated with each of the movable seating means in a fixed position relative to the barrel and prevent displacement of the seating means when subjected to impact shock.

7. In a gun having a barrel rigidly mounted at its breech on a gunstock with the forestock thereof extending along a portion of the barrel with a clearance space between the barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a plate member disposed to be carried by the end of the foretock, a pair of brackets carried by the plate member in spaced relation thereon, an elongated member adjustably carried by each of the brackets and disposed for movement relative thereto, an end piece carried on one end of each of the elongated members disposed to engage the barrel under predetermined movement of the elongated member to provide a seat therefor to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, the end piece being of fibrous material impregnated with resin to provide a heat insulating and resilient seat for the barrel, and means carried by the other end of each of the elongated members disposed to lock the elongated member in position in the associated bracket to maintain the end piece in fixed position relative to the barrel and prevent displacement of the end piece under impact shock.

8. In a gun having a barrel rigidly mounted at its breech on a gunstock with the forestock thereof extending along a portion of the barrel with a clearance space between the barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a plate member disposed to be carried by the end of the forestock, a pair of brackets carried by the plate member in spaced relation thereon, each of the brackets having a threaded opening therein, the threaded openings being angularly disposed with respect to each other whereby extensions thereof converge in a direction towards the barrel, an elongated member associated with each of the brackets and disposed in threaded engagement with the threaded openings therein, to extend outwardly therefrom in the converging angular direction of the openings, the elongated members being disposed for longitudinal movement to seat the converging ends thereof in spaced point contact against the barrel to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, and means associated with each of the elongated members disposed to lock the elongated members in their associated bracket to maintain the converging ends in a fixed position relative to the barrel.

9. In an. attachment for use with a firearm having a forestock with a front terminal face and a barrel mounted with a clearance space be-- tween the barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a plate 'member adapted to be attached on the front terminal face of the forestock, said member including supporting means and adjustable devices carried by the supporting means in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of the vertical central plane of the barrel and forestock and the adjustable devices disposed for movement to engage the portion of the barrel below the horizontal central plane thereof in spaced resting contact therewith to provide a seat to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, whereby the barrel rests upon the adjustable devices during aiming of the firearm and said barrel may move upwardly therefrom due to firing reaction and reseat itself thereon thereafter, said adjustable devices and support ing means further being so constructed and arranged as to retain the adjustable devices in position after adjustment.

10. In a gun having a barrel rigidly mounted at its breech on a gunstock with the forestock thereof extending along a portion of the barrel with a clearance space between the barrel and forestock, the combination comprising, a plate member disposed to be carried by the end of the forestock, a pair of brackets carried by the plate member in spaced relation thereon, an elongated member adjustably carried by each of the brackets and disposed for movement relative thereto, an end piece of fibrous material impregnated with resin carried on one end of each of the elongated members, the end piece having a curved outer face disposed to engage the barrel under predetermined movement of the elongated member to provide a resilient point contact seat therefor, the end pieces thereby cooperating to provide a plurality of fixed supports for the barrel depending upon the adjustment of the elongated members, and means carried by the other end of each of the elongated members disposed to lock the elongated member in position in the associated bracket to maintain the end piece in a fixed position relative to the barrel and prevent displacement of the end piece under impact shock.

11. In an attachment for use with a firearm having a forestock and a barrel mounted with a clearance space between the barrel and the forestcck, the combination comprising, a plate member adapted to be attached on the front end of the forestock, supporting means disposed on the plate member, adjustable members carried by the supporting means in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of the vertical central plane of the barrel and disposed for movement to engage the barrel in spaced point contact therewith to provide a seat therefor to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, and means associated with each of the adjustable seating means disposed to lock the seating means in fixed position relative to the barrel and prevent displacement of the seating means under impact shock.

12. In an attachment for use with a firearm having a forestock and a barrel mounted with a clearance space between the barrel and the forestock, the combination comprising, a plate member adapted to be attached on the front end of the forestock, supporting means disposed on the plate member, adjustable members carried. by the supporting means in spaced relation to each other to extend outwardly therefrom in converging angular relation to each other on opposite sides of the vertical central plane of the barrel and disposed for movement to engage the barrel in spaced point contact therewith to provide a seat therefor to support the barrel and maintain the clearance space between the barrel and forestock, and means associated with each of the adjustable seating means disposed to lock the seating means in fixed position relative to the barreland prevent displacement of the seating means under impact shock.

' SAMUEL J. YASHO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,205,857 Marchand June 25, 194!) 2,205,982 Klipsch June 25, 1940 2,312,150 Conner Feb. 23, 1943 2,339,331 Grigg Jan. 18, 1944 2,372,568 Grigg Mar. 27, 1945 

